Breadcrumbs

Hurricane Safety Tips

What Are Hurricanes?

Hurricanes and tropical storms form over warm ocean waters and sometimes strike land. While a storm with winds above 74 mph is officially a hurricane, even tropical storms (with winds above 39 mph) can have deadly storm surge and cause significant damage.

Why Prepare?

Hurricanes have the power to cause widespread devastation and can affect both coastal and inland areas. Threats from hurricanes include storm surge, high winds, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, tornadoes, and rip currents. Although the Atlantic hurricane season is officially June 1 through November 30, the most active time for these storms in Massachusetts is late August through September.

The National Weather Service issues tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings to alert the public of potential hazardous conditions. It is important to understand the difference between a watch and a warning so you know what to do to stay safe.

Hurricane & Tropical Storm Watch

Hurricane Watch — Hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

If you receive medical treatment or home health care services, work with your medical provider to determine how to maintain care and service if you are unable to leave your home or have to evacuate during.

When a Hurricane or Topical Storm Is Approaching

If you live or work in a flood or or an area that is prone to flooding, be ready to evacuate.

If you are not in an area prone to flooding and planning on riding out the storm at home, gather adequate supplies in case you lose power and water for several days and you are unable to leave due to.

Prepare for power outages by charging cell phones and electronics and setting your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If you use electricity to get well water, fill your bathtub with water to use for flushing toilets.

Keep your car’s gas tank full. Pumps at gas stations may not work during a power outage.

Secure or bring in outdoor objects (patio furniture, children's toys, trash cans, etc.) that could be swept away or damaged during strong winds or flooding.

Clear clogged rain gutters to allow water to flow away from your home.

If damaging winds are expected, cover all of your windows. If you don’t have storm shutters, board up windows with 5/8” exterior-grade or marine plywood.

Go Tapeless! Taping windows wastes preparation time, does not stop windows from breaking in a hurricane, and does not make cleanup easier. In fact, taping windows may create larger shards of glass that can cause serious injuries.

During a Hurricane

Avoid driving or going outdoors during a storm. Flooding and damaging winds can make traveling dangerous.

If you must be out in the storm:

Do not walk through flowing water. Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off of your feet.

Remember the phrase “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” Don’t drive through flooded roads. Cars can be swept away in just two feet of moving water. If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle. If the water is rising inside the vehicle, seek refuge on the roof.

Conditions may change quickly, be prepared to evacuate to a shelter or neighbor’s home if necessary.

After a Hurricane

Continue to monitor the media for emergency information.

Follow instructions from public safety officials.

Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies, including downed power lines and gas leaks.

Call 2-1-1 to obtain shelter locations and other disaster information.

Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live.

Remember the phrase “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” Don’t drive through flooded roads. Cars can be swept away in just two feet of moving water.

Stay out of damaged buildings and away from affected areas and or roads until authorities deem them safe.

If you have evacuated, return home only when authorities say it is safe to do so.

Listen to news reports to learn if your water supply is safe to drink. Until local authorities proclaim your water supply safe, boil water for at least one minute before drinking or using it for food preparation.

Check your home for damage:

Never touch electrical equipment while you are wet or standing in water. Consider hiring a qualified electrician to assess damage to electrical systems.

Have wells checked for contamination from bacteria and chemicals before using.

If you believe there is a gas leak, go outdoors immediately, and do not turn electrical switches or appliances on or off. If you turned off your gas, a licensed professional is required to turn it back on.

If your home or property is damaged, take photos or videos to document damage, and contact your insurance company.

Use generators and grills outside because their fumes contain carbon monoxide. Make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working as it is a silent, odorless, killer. See more Generator Safety Tips.

If a traffic light is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

If phone lines are down, use social media or texting to let others know you are OK.

Look before you step. After a hurricane or flood, the ground and floors can be covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails.

Avoid entering moving or standing floodwaters. Floodwater and mud may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.

Clean and disinfect anything that got wet, and take steps to prevent and detect mold. Consider using professional cleaning and repair services. See more tips to recover from flooding.

Throw away food (including canned items), that has come into contact with floodwaters, was exposed to temperatures above 40 °F for more than two hours, or has an unusual odor, color, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!

Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions and those who may need additional assistance.

More Information

While a hurricane has not made landfall in Massachusetts since Hurricane Bob in 1991, more recent tropical storms have caused severe widespread wind and flood damage, including in western Massachusetts far away from the coast. For more historical information, see Significant Historical Massachusetts Hurricanes.